Blake Griffin (32) and DeAndre Jordan (6) are playing more minutes this season for new coach Doc Rivers. / Kelley L. Cox, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

WASHINGTON - Blake Griffin hung on to the rim for an extra second, as though catching his breath. With about six minutes to go and his Los Angeles Clippers leading the Washington Wizards by 15, the physical power forward already had played 36 of 42 possible minutes.

Griffin finished with 39 minutes Saturday in the 113-97 win, and center DeAndre Jordan stuck around for 31. This is typical now under new Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who wants his best players on the court as much as possible. Where Vinny Del Negro fettered Griffin and especially Jordan, Rivers has allowed his big men to roam free.

Jordan has played more fourth-quarter minutes this season (157) than he did all of last season (149), when he was left on the bench for the final quarter in 52 games.

"Confidence," Jordan told USA TODAY Sports when asked how Rivers has helped him. "Having the opportunity to play and learn as I play, adding confidence is a big deal."

Rivers' decision partly is formed by necessity. Byron Mullens and Ryan Hollins are the Clippers' top big men off the bench, and the duo has struggled to produce consistently. Hollins, who played for Rivers with the Boston Celtics, plays more frequently, but Mullens, a free agent signing, mostly has been held to garbage time.

Each entered Saturday's rout late in the fourth quarter.

"I'm trying to figure out my role on this team right now," Mullens said. "I don't know. I'm not really sure. That's something you can ask the coach."

Last season, the Clippers leaned on veterans Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf, along with Hollins, to back up Griffin and Jordan. But with those two gone, aging Antawn Jamison has been pressed into a larger early-season role than expected.

"He was ready to play later in the season," Jordan said of Jamison, who has played about 13 minutes a game in 11 appearances. "His number got called early, but he's ready. That's what you get for having a veteran guy on your team."

USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick reports the Clippers still may bring back Odom, who has had a turbulent offseason while remaining a free agent, but those discussions may be held up until injured wings J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes return.

Ultimately, though, Rivers wants a rotation he can count on, and he is building that through his athletic starting big men. Griffin, a perennial All-Star, is on track for another appearance as he averages 20.1 points and 10.4 rebounds in 36.7 minutes a game, up from 18.0 and 8.3 in 32.5 last season. He also is developing a bigger leadership role alongside superstar point guard Chris Paul.

Jordan has played about 10 more minutes a game (34.8-24.7) than he did last season, and the reward has been career highs of 9.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game. His 39.5% shooting from the free-throw line is mitigated by his NBA-best 63.5% from the field and stout defense.

"They are young; they should play more," Rivers said. "D.J. didn't play a lot of minutes in the fourth quarter last year. So he's going to play more minutes. He's a special player. He's one of the best if not the best defensively in the league. So we want him on the floor."